Article Questions
What does SAC mean and what is its function?
SAC means spindle assembly checkpoint. It makes sure that chromosomes have proper alignment before anaphase.
List the phases of mitosis in order (6 answers)
Prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis.
What is the name of the process that converts normal cells to cancer cells?
Transformation
What is G0?
If a cell is unable to pass G1, it exits the cycle into a resting state called G0 where it doesn't undergo mitosis.
When was the article published?
The article was published in 2019.
What is chromosomal instability?
The gain or loss of chromosomes during mitosis due to improper chromosome separation.
What phase in mitosis are the chromosomes lined up at the metaphase plate?
Metaphase.
What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?
Benign tumors are stationary and don't metastasize. Malignant tumors metastasize and create secondary tumors. Malignant tumors are generally more dangerous.
List the checkpoints, and the functions.
G1: commits to cell cycle.
G2: prevents cells from entering mitosis when unready (damaged DNA).
M: checks if sister chromatids correctly attached to spindle microtubules, near end of metaphase.
Where was the study done?
The study was done in Australia, University of Queensland.
What is mitotic slippage? What is a prerequisite of mitotic slippage?
Mitotic slippage allows a cell to bypass mitotic arrest (which can lead to cell death) and exit mitosis prematurely. Its a prerequisite of aneuploid cell survival (extra/missing chromosome).
How long is interphase in humans?
12-30 hours.
What makes cancer cells abnormal and dangerous? (3 answers)
Cancer cells can:
- make their own growth factor
- produce growth factor signals without the growth factor present
- abnormal cell cycle control system
What is MPF and its function?
MPF is maturation-promoting factor and its a cyclin-Cdk complex. It triggers the cells path to pass G2 into the M phase.
What organization/council was the study funded by?
National Health & Medical Research Council Program
What are the harmful implications of long-term chemotherapy and anti-mitotic therapy?
Cancerous cells can develop resistances to treatments, and therefore continue to proliferate.
They can also overcome SAC-enforced arrest by slowing the degradation of cyclin B1.
Which protists have exhibited the intermediate between mitosis and binary fission? (2 possible answers)
Dinoflagellates and diatoms
What is PDGF? Why is it necessary for mitosis?
PDGF is platelet derived growth factor. It stimulates human fibroblast division.
True or false: all cells divide at the same rate.
False. Some cells (like skin cells) divide more frequently than some cells (like liver cells, which only replicate when damaged).
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What effect does higher CEP55 expression do in terms of the cell cycle abnormalities?
Higher CEP55 expression results in more frequent exit from mitotic arrest which results in polyploidy, and resistance to anti-mitotic drug induced cell death. In short, CEP55 expression is harmful as it protects harmful cancer cells.
True or False: If an organism has 16 chromatids at anaphase, it has 16 chromosomes.
True
What is anchorage dependence and density dependent inhibition? Why are they important?
Anchorage dependence: cells cannot undergo proliferation unless they are attached to a substrate.
Density dependent inhibition: crowded cells stop proliferating.
Cancer cells are not influenced by either of these factors, so they can proliferate uncontrollably.
If a cell is in cycle for 100 minutes, and the mitotic frequency is 0.3, what is the time spent in interphase.
70 minutes
The article uses a lot of abbreviations, what does ERK stand for?
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase